Device and method for previewing themes and categories of sequenced symbols

• US 8,234,589 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prentke Romich Company
• Original Assignee: Semantic Compaction Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Bruce R., Conti, Robert V., Dillon, Rob, Hershberger, Dave H., McGrath, Thomas J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US12/320,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 715/835, 715/709, 715/781, 715/771, 715/838, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A computer device, such as a mobile phone or PDA for example, is able to output a message based upon selection of a corresponding sequence of symbol. Such symbols can be polysemous in nature and thus be associated with a plurality of different meanings depending upon other symbols sequenced therewith. By utilizing polysemous symbols, a relatively large number of sequences can be developed and associated with stored messages in the computer device. To aid a user in accessing a desired sequence or to aid in training the learning of stored sequences, for example, a category relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon pre-selecting a symbol; a theme relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon selecting a symbol and pre-selecting a next symbol; and/or a message associated with a sequence is fed back to the user upon selecting and/or pre-selecting at least one symbol completing a symbol sequence.

Claims

1. In a system for providing at least one of a message, command, and program in response to a selection of a symbol sequence including plurality of displayed symbols in an associated symbol sequence, a method comprising:

receiving an indication of selection by a user of the system, of one of a plurality of displayed symbols;

receiving an indication of at least one of pre-selection and further selection by a user of the system, of one of the plurality of displayed symbols corresponding to a next symbol in at least two symbol sequences including the selected symbol and the at least one of pre-selected and further selected symbol, at least one of the selected, pre-selected and further selected symbols being polysemous; and

providing feedback to the user, in response to receiving the indication of at least one of pre-selection and further selection of the next symbol by a user of the system, the feedback including display of previously undisplayed information conveying a theme or category to the user, to which the at least two symbol sequences belong, each of the at least two symbol sequences including the selected symbol and the at least one of pre-selected and further selected next symbol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the selected and at least one of pre-selected and further selected symbols are polysemous.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback further includes audible feedback.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback includes display of at least one word corresponding to the theme or category.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein valid next symbols for further selection and pre-selection are differentiated from invalid symbols.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one word corresponding to the theme or category is displayed in a designated display area of a display of the system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as a first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in a different symbol sequence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as a first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in the same symbol sequence.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided to the user prior to completion of a symbol sequence associated with at least one of a message, command and program.

10. In a system for providing at least one of a message, command and program in response to a selection of a symbol sequence including a plurality of displayed symbols in an associated symbol sequence, a method comprising:

receiving an indication of at least one of pre-selection and selection by a user of the system, of a polysemous one of the plurality of displayed symbols corresponding to a first symbol in at least two symbol sequences including the at least one of pre-selected and selected symbol; and

providing feedback to the user, in response to receiving the indication of at least one of pre-selection and selection of the first symbol by a user of the system, the feedback including display of previously undisplayed information conveying a theme or category to the user to which the at least two symbol sequences belong, each of the at least two symbol sequences including the at least one of pre-selected and selected symbol.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least two of the symbols of the at least two symbol sequences are polysemous.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback includes further audible feedback.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback includes display of at least one word corresponding to the theme or category.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein valid next symbols for at least one of further selection and pre-selection are differentiated from invalid symbols.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one word corresponding to the theme or category is displayed on a display of the system in a designated display area.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as the first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in a different symbol sequence.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as the first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in the same symbol sequence.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback is provided to the user prior to completion of a symbol sequence associated with at least one of a message, command and program.

19. A device for providing at least one of a message, command and program in response to a selection of a symbol sequence including a plurality of displayed symbols in an associated symbol sequence, comprising:

an input device to permit selection, by a user of the device, of one of the plurality of displayed symbols, and to permit at least one of further selection and pre-selection by a user of the device, of one of the plurality of displayed symbols, corresponding to a next symbol in at least two symbol sequences including the selected symbol and at least one of the further selected and pre-selected symbols; and

a feedback device to provide feedback to the user, in response to at least one of pre-selection and further selection of the next symbol by a user of the system, the feedback including display of previously undisplayed information conveying theme or category to the user to which the at least two symbol sequences belong, each of the at least two symbol sequences including the at least one of pre-selected and selected symbol, at least one of the selected, pre-selected and further selected symbols being polysemous.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the feedback device includes a display.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the display displays at least one word corresponding to the theme or the category, relating at least two messages, commands or programs respectively stored in association with the at least two symbol sequences.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein at least one word corresponding to the theme or the category is displayed in a designated display area of the display.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the feedback device includes a device for providing audible feedback.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the input device and feedback device are part of an integrated input and display.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein the input device includes a touch panel display.

26. The device of claim 19, wherein valid next symbols for further selection and pre-selection are differentiated from invalid symbols on the input device.

27. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is a personal digital assistant.

28. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

29. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is a speech processing device.

30. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is a remote control device.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the device is a remote control device for remotely controlling an electronic device.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the device is a remote control device for controlling, at least in part, a television.

33. The device of claim 19, wherein the input device is further useable to permit selection by a user, subsequent to selection of the further selected symbol, of a third symbol of a symbol sequence sequentially including the selected symbol, further selected and third selected symbols and wherein the feedback device is further useable to provide feedback corresponding to at least one of a message, program and command stored in association with the symbol sequence sequentially including the selected, further selected and third symbol.

34. The device of claim 19, wherein at least two of the selected symbols are polysemous.

35. The device of claim 19, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as a first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in a different symbol sequence.

36. The device of claim 19, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as a first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in the same symbol sequence.

37. The device of claim 19, wherein the feedback is provided to the user prior to completion of a symbol sequence associated with at least one of a message, command and program.

38. A device for providing at least one of a message, command and program in response to a selection of a symbol sequence including a plurality of displayed symbols in an associated symbol sequence, comprising:

an input device to permit at least one of pre-selection and selection, by a user of the system, of a first polysemous symbol of at least two symbol sequences from the plurality of displayed symbols; and

a feedback device to provide feedback to the user, in response to at least one of pre-selection and selection of the first symbol by a user of the system, the feedback including display of previously undisplayed information conveying, to the user, a theme or category to which the at least two symbol sequences belong, each of the at least two symbol sequences including the first symbol.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the feedback device includes a display.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the display displays at least one word corresponding to the theme or the category, relating at least two messages, commands or programs respectively stored in association with the at least two symbol sequences.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein at least one word corresponding to the theme or the category is displayed in a designated display area of the display.

42. The device of claim 38, wherein the feedback device includes a device for providing audible feedback.

43. The device of claim 38, wherein the input device and feedback device are part of an integrated input and display.

44. The device of claim 38, wherein the input device includes a touch panel display.

45. The device of claim 38, wherein valid next symbols for at least one of further selection and pre-selection are differentiated from invalid symbols on the input device.

46. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a personal digital assistant.

47. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

48. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a speech processing device.

49. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a remote control device.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein the device is a remote control device for remotely controlling an electronic device.

51. The device of claim 49, wherein the device is a remote control device for controlling, at least in part, a television.

52. The device of claim 38, wherein the input device is further useable to permit selection by a user, subsequent to selection of the first symbol, of a second symbol of a symbol sequence sequentially including the first and second selected symbols and wherein the feedback device is further useable to provide feedback, the feedback including display of previously undisplayed information conveying, to the user, a theme or category of symbol sequences sequentially including the first and second symbol.

53. The device of claim 38, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as the first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in a different symbol sequence.

54. The device of claim 38, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as the first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in the same symbol sequence.

55. The device of claim 38, wherein the feedback is provided to the user prior to completion of a symbol sequence associated with at least one of a message, command and program.

56. In a system for providing at least one of a message, command, and program in response to a selection of a symbol sequence including a plurality of displayed symbols in an associated symbol sequence, a method comprising:

receiving an indication of selection by a user of the system, of one of the plurality of displayed symbols;

providing feedback to the user, subsequent to selection of the one of the plurality of symbols and prior to receiving selection of at least one next symbol in a symbol sequence by a user of the system, the feedback including display of previously undisplayed information conveying a theme or category to the user, to which at least two symbol sequences including the selected symbol and at least one next symbol belong.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the feedback is provided subsequent to selection of the one of the plurality of symbols and subsequent to pre-selection of the at least one next symbol.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein valid next symbols for selection and pre-selection are differentiated from invalid symbols.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as a first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in a different symbol sequence.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as the first symbol in a symbol sequence and are at least one of pre-selectable and further selectable as a next symbol in the same symbol sequence.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein at least the selected symbol is polysemous.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein the feedback further includes audible feedback.

63. The method of claim 56, wherein the feedback includes display of at least one word corresponding to the theme or category.

64. The method of claim 56, wherein valid next symbols for selection are differentiated from invalid symbols.

65. The method of claim 56, wherein at least one word corresponding to the theme or category is displayed in a designated display area of a display of the system.

66. The method of claim 56, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as a first symbol in a symbol sequence and are further selectable as a next symbol in a different symbol sequence.

67. The method of claim 56, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed symbols are selectable as the first symbol in a symbol sequence and are further selectable as a next symbol in the same symbol sequence.

68. The method of claim 56, wherein the feedback is provided to the user prior to completion of a symbol sequence associated with at least one of a message, command and program.

69. A device for providing at least one of a message, command and program in response to a selection of a symbol sequence including a plurality of displayed symbols in an associated symbol sequence, comprising:

an input device to permit selection, by a user of the device, of one of the plurality of displayed symbols, and to permit at least one of further selection and pre-selection by a user of the device, of one of the plurality of displayed symbols, corresponding to a next symbol in at least two symbol sequences including the selected symbol and at least one of the further selected and pre-selected symbols; and

a feedback device to provide, subsequent to the selection of the one of the plurality of symbols and prior to receiving selection of the next symbol by a user of the device, the feedback including display of previously undisplayed information conveying a theme or category to the user, to which at least two symbol sequences including the selected symbol and at least one next symbol belong.

70. The device of claim 69, wherein the feedback device includes a display.

71. The device of claim 70, wherein the display displays at least one word corresponding to the theme or the category, relating at least two messages, commands or programs respectively stored in association with the at least two symbol sequences.

72. The device of claim 70, wherein at least one word corresponding to the theme or the category is displayed in a designated display area of the display.

73. The device of claim 69, wherein the feedback device includes a device for providing audible feedback.

74. The device of claim 69, wherein the input device and feedback device are part of an integrated input and display.

75. The device of claim 69, wherein the input device includes a touch panel display.

76. The device of claim 69, wherein valid next symbols for further selection and pre-selection are differentiated from invalid symbols on the input device.

77. The device of claim 69, wherein the device is a personal digital assistant.

78. The device of claim 69, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

79. The device of claim 69, wherein the device is a speech processing device.

80. The device of claim 69, wherein the device is a remote control device.

81. The device of claim 80, wherein the device is a remote control device for remotely controlling an electronic device.

82. The device of claim 80, wherein the device is a remote control device for controlling, at least in part, a television.

83. The device of claim 69, wherein the input device is further useable to permit selection by a user, subsequent to selection of the further selected symbol, of a third symbol of a symbol sequence sequentially including the selected symbol, further selected and third selected symbols and wherein the feedback device is further useable to provide feedback corresponding to at least one of a message, program and command stored in association with the symbol sequence sequentially including the selected, further selected and third symbol.

84. The device of claim 69, wherein at least two of the symbols are polysemous.

85. The device of claim 69, wherein the feedback is provided to the user prior to completion of a symbol sequence associated with at least one of a message, command and program.